National university
#2 Best colleges in the St. Louis areaSaint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $24,398 a year
Median debt at graduation: $25,000 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Upcoming admissions events
- Business Information SessionOctober 27, 2026 · VirtualRegister for a webinar with the Business program.More about Business Information SessionAdd to calendar
- Billiken for a DayOctober 30, 2026 · On campusAdmission presentation, campus tour, academic information session and lunch with students.More about Billiken for a DayAdd to calendar
- College for Public Health and Social Justice Information SessionNovember 3, 2026 · VirtualRegister for a webinar about the College for Public Health and Social Justice.More about College for Public Health and Social Justice Information SessionAdd to calendar
- Physical Therapy Information SessionNovember 5, 2026 · VirtualRegister for a webinar with the Physical Therapy program.More about Physical Therapy Information SessionAdd to calendar
View all upcoming events (5 more) · From the college's admissions website.
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for criminal justice in America#42 of 1,046
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in America#63 of 950
- Best colleges for social work in America#41 of 605
- Best colleges for nursing in America#78 of 1,068
- Best colleges for accounting in America#83 of 1,132
- Best colleges for marketing in America#68 of 834
Show 22 more
- Best colleges for business in America#144 of 1,563
- Best colleges for education in America#130 of 1,318
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#123 of 1,238
- Best colleges for finance in America#74 of 744
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#211 of 1,829
- Best colleges in America#221 of 1,829
- Best colleges for psychology in America#174 of 1,418
- Best colleges in the St. Louis area#2 of 16
- Best test-optional colleges in America#192 of 1,481
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#177 of 1,358
- Best colleges for English in America#168 of 1,283
- Best colleges for history in America#174 of 1,247
- Best colleges for art and design in America#168 of 1,187
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in America#99 of 690
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#179 of 1,215
- Colleges with the most faculty per student in America#105 of 704
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#178 of 1,162
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#173 of 1,116
- Best colleges for music in America#167 of 1,063
- Best colleges for computer science in America#125 of 750
- Best colleges for engineering in America#135 of 749
- Best large colleges in America#58 of 256
In Missouri
- Best colleges for criminal justice in Missouri#2 of 33
- Best colleges for business in Missouri#3 of 43
- Best test-optional colleges in Missouri#3 of 42
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in Missouri#2 of 27
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Missouri#3 of 40
- Best colleges in Missouri#4 of 53
Show 20 more
- Best colleges for exercise science and kinesiology in Missouri#2 of 26
- Best colleges for education in Missouri#3 of 39
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in Missouri#3 of 38
- Best colleges for psychology in Missouri#3 of 38
- Best colleges for history in Missouri#3 of 37
- Best colleges for English in Missouri#3 of 36
- Best colleges for nursing in Missouri#3 of 36
- Best colleges for mathematics in Missouri#3 of 33
- Best colleges for accounting in Missouri#3 of 32
- Best colleges for art and design in Missouri#3 of 32
- Best colleges for chemistry in Missouri#3 of 32
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Missouri#5 of 53
- Best colleges for music in Missouri#3 of 30
- Best colleges for social work in Missouri#2 of 18
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in Missouri#2 of 18
- Best colleges for finance in Missouri#3 of 22
- Best colleges for computer science in Missouri#3 of 21
- Best colleges for marketing in Missouri#3 of 20
- Best colleges for engineering in Missouri#3 of 14
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in Missouri#5 of 18
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.80%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.88%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,317 · ACT 28
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.9 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$16,954
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $71,932 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 10,519 |
|---|---|
| Men and women Undergraduates, fall 2023 (College Scorecard) | Men 41% · Women 59% |
| First-generation students Share of students who are first-generation, by the College Scorecard’s definition | 22% |
| Total students | 17,202 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $24,398 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $71,932 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 80% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients Finishing within 6 years (College Scorecard) | 62% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students Finishing within 6 years (College Scorecard) | 61% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years Borrowers who repaid at least $1 of principal within 3 years (College Scorecard) | 73% |
| First-year retention | 88% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $70,783 |
| Admission rate | 75% |
| Application fee Undergraduate application fee, 2023–24 (IPEDS) | No application fee |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 17% |
| Average SAT | 1317 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 600–700 |
| SAT math | 600–710 |
| ACT composite | 25–31 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Good · Top 42% (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Mechanical engineering | |
| Finance | |
| International business | |
| Business administration | |
| Computer science | |
| Accounting | |
| Computing and information science | |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | |
| Management information systems | |
| Air Transportation | |
| Nursing | |
| Managerial economics | |
| Allied health | |
| Kinesiology and exercise science | |
| Human resources | |
| Marketing | |
| Entrepreneurship | |
| Rehabilitation and therapy | |
| Health administration | |
| Political science | |
| Biology | |
| Public health | |
| Speech-language pathology | |
| Criminal justice | |
| Psychology | |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | |
| Communication studies | |
| Romance languages | |
| Social work | |
| International relations | |
| English | |
| Education (general) |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, Anthropology, Area studies, Arts management, Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Biochemistry, Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Chemistry, Civil engineering, Classical and Ancient Studies, Classics, Clinical laboratory science, Community Organization and Advocacy, Computer engineering, Data Science, Electrical engineering, Engineering Physics, Ethnic and gender studies, Fine arts, Geology and earth science, German, Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities, Health sciences, History, Homeland Security, Liberal arts, Management science, Mathematics, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Music, Natural resources and conservation, Neuroscience, Nutrition Sciences, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Philosophy, Physics, Pre-law and legal studies, Religious studies, Security science, Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Sociology, Theatre, Theology.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Health professions | |
| Business | |
| Biology | |
| Parks, recreation and fitness | |
| Engineering |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 8% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 7% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $15,280 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Atlantic 10 Conference |
| ROTC | Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 9 to 1 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 63%Of instructional faculty, fall 2023 (College Scorecard) |
| Endowment per student | $118,687Endowment at the end of fiscal year 2023, per full-time-equivalent student (IPEDS) |
| Dorm space | For about 40% of studentsCampus beds divided by undergraduate enrollment. Not how many students live on campus (IPEDS) |
| Nearest airport with scheduled flights | St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)About 11 miles away in a straight line (OurAirports) |
| Town population | 288,5122020–2024 five-year estimate (U.S. Census Bureau) |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | St. LouisThe campus is in or next to this city |
| Average temperature in January | 33°F1991–2020 normal, from ST LOUIS SCI CTR, MO US, about 2 miles away (NOAA) |
| Average temperature in July | 81°F1991–2020 normal, from ST LOUIS SCI CTR, MO US, about 2 miles away (NOAA) |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.11 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.27 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.25 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Saint Louis University’s Compass Score?
- Excellent (grade A-). It ranks in the top 13% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Saint Louis University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $24,398 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Saint Louis University?
- Saint Louis University admitted 75% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Saint Louis University’s graduates do?
- 80% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $70,783; the median federal debt at graduation is $25,000.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 179159
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (high research)
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Roman Catholic
- Report an error or a newer source
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